138,904 Shares in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. $MRSH Acquired by Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Co

Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Co purchased a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 138,904 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $23,151,000.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. BlackRock Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 2nd quarter worth $6,583,806,000. State Street Corp purchased a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies during the fourth quarter valued at $4,057,682,000. Capital International Investors purchased a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 4th quarter worth about $3,482,557,000. Capital World Investors acquired a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 4th quarter worth about $3,140,284,000. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP acquired a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 4th quarter worth about $2,967,927,000. 87.99% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling at Marsh & McLennan Companies

In other news, insider Martin South sold 7,100 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $189.99, for a total transaction of $1,348,929.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 16,632 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,159,913.68. This trade represents a 29.92% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, SVP Paul Beswick sold 713 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $198.00, for a total transaction of $141,174.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president owned 16,376 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,242,448. This represents a 4.17% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 36,469 shares of company stock worth $6,291,345. Company insiders own 0.38% of the company’s stock.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Trading Up 1.0%

MRSH opened at $192.17 on Friday. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $179.88. The company has a current ratio of 1.14, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 1 year low of $156.60 and a 1 year high of $212.65. The firm has a market capitalization of $91.71 billion, a PE ratio of 23.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 0.59.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, July 21st. The financial services provider reported $2.96 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.89 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $7.28 billion for the quarter. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a return on equity of 32.67% and a net margin of 14.24%.The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 6.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 10.43 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 14th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, July 23rd were paid a $0.99 dividend. This represents a $3.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.1%. This is a boost from Marsh & McLennan Companies’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.90. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, July 23rd. Marsh & McLennan Companies’s dividend payout ratio is presently 48.41%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

MRSH has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Cantor Fitzgerald raised their target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $210.00 to $218.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, July 9th. Piper Sandler reduced their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $190.00 to $182.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, May 26th. UBS Group raised their price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $212.00 to $216.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, July 27th. Citigroup downgraded shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $200.00 target price on the stock. in a research note on Wednesday, July 22nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $206.00 to $212.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, July 13th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $203.50.

About Marsh & McLennan Companies

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE: MMC) is a global professional services firm headquartered in New York City that provides advice and solutions in the areas of risk, strategy and people. Founded in 1905, the company has grown into a diversified group of businesses focused on insurance brokerage and risk management, reinsurance, human capital and investment consulting, and management consulting. Its long history and scale position it as a prominent adviser to corporations, governments and other institutions seeking to manage risk and optimize human and financial capital.

The firm operates through several well-known subsidiaries and business units that specialize in distinct services.